How to Lock a Catapult Arm Back

The catapult is the classic siege device used in warfare from the time of the ancient Greeks through the medieval period. Catapults use stored tension in the large, flexible arm to hurl projectiles over huge distances. Armies of the period used catapults to launch anything from stones to diseased corpses to destroy cities or sow chaos in the enemy ranks. The weapons were constructed of wood and metal and required teams of operators to load and fire safely.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Turn the winch to pull the catapult arm back until it hits the metal catch. The catch is a windmill-shaped rotating object with three arms. While one arm is pinned by a lever underneath the arm, another arm pins the catapult arm in place.

   • 2

     Load your projectile into the arm of the catapult. Please use something safe, like a water balloon.

   • 3

     Hit the lever with a mallet to rotate the catch and release the arm, firing the catapult.